A/N: So...I've come back! I'm so sorry it's taken so long to update...who knew I would be so busy! I'll try to update every Saturday, so...I'll try to set aside some time to do that.
Okay, now for the chappie.
Chapter 7: Klingon Assimilation!
"What? La'Kieta, are you insane?" cried B'Elanna. Leila and Janeway had just told her about Leila's assimilation plan.
"How could you even consider assimilation?" B'Elanna demanded. "Especially since you're five months pregnant!"
"I know, I know, don't remind me!" exclaimed Leila. "That's why you're coming with me!"
"Why do I have to go with you?" B'Elanna protested. "I've been assimilated once already, and I don't wish to do it again!" Leila seized the front of her jacket and pulled her down to eye level.
"Listen, Torres," she growled. "Nobody can do this job better than a Klingon. I don't know that much about Klingons, but I do know they're powerful warriors who hold honor in high regard. B'Elanna, if you help me do this, not only will you bring honor to the Torres name, you'll be the most respected half-Klingon on Starfalcon!"
"Besides you?" said B'Elanna teasingly.
"Yes, besides me," Leila replied with a smile. "So, will you do it?" There was silence for a moment as B'Elanna thought.
"Oh, all right," she said. "You've convinced me, La'Kieta."
"Cool!" cried Leila. "Let's get assimilated!"
"You do know how insane that sounds, don't you?" said Janeway. Leila only laughed.
"Okay, is the Borg cube in sight?" she asked.
"Yes," Janeway said. "Let's go, you two." The three Starfleet officers strode to the transporter room.
Upon arriving, they found that Paris was manning the controls and Chakotay, Kim, and a young red-haired Ktarian girl were overseeing the transport.
Just as Leila got onto the platform, the Ktarian girl came up to her.
"Good luck in getting your crew back from the Borg," she said.
"Thanks," said Leila. "And...who are you?"
"Naomi Wildman," the girl answered. "Captain Janeway's assistant. I'm half-Ktarian."
"Awesome," said Leila. "I'm Leila Featherflame."
"Nice to meet you," said Naomi. Leila looked at Janeway.
"I envy you!" she said. "I don't have an assistant..." Janeway laughed.
"Leila, I have one last request," she said.
"And what's that?" Leila asked.
"Call me Kathryn."
"Captain Featherflame! Awaken at once!"
Leila opened her eyes. Her last memory was of Voyager's transporter room, saying good-bye to Captain Janeway--no, Kathryn. Now, she was lying on a hard surface, a voice above her calling her name.
"No!" she cried. "I refuse to be assimilated! I demand to know where my crew are!" She sat up and saw...B'Elanna and Seven of Nine standing on either side of her, both normal-looking and unharmed.
"Will you shut up?" asked B'Elanna. "You're not going to get assimilated--this isn't even a real Borg cube!"
"Say what?" said Leila. "This...isn't a real Borg ship?"
"No, it's not," answered B'Elanna.
"Then where the hell did this come from?" Leila exclaimed. "Was there even a real one?"
"Yes," Seven replied. "I discovered your ship had an artificial Borg cube that is to be used when the real cube is detected. All but a few crewmembers beam onto here, and the remaining crew cloak Starfalcon so the Collective does not know it's there. All the Collective see is the Starfalcon-created cube. The Collective do not bother scanning cubes to see if they are artificial or not. That is one of the Borg's faults--assumption."
"That's awesome," said Leila. "I didn't even know Starfalcon had that! But I have a question. Why did Cadet Venezia think the others were assimilated?"
"Cadet Venezia was like you--she did not know the artificial cube existed," said Seven. "That is the reason I beamed on here; she contacted me in a panic, telling me everyone had been assimilated except a few." Leila laughed in relief. So, Starfalcon had her own defenses!
"Your crew is back on Starfalcon," said Seven, "so I will be going back to Voyager." She then left the room.
"Well, shall we follow?" asked B'Elanna. Leila nodded. Suddenly, a deep, mechanical voice filled the room, a voice Leila never expected to hear:
"We are the Borg. Lower your shields and surrender your ship. You will be assimilated. Resistance...is futile."
"No!" cried Leila. "Featherflame to Starfalcon and Voyager! The Borg cube has been discovered! We're being--" She gasped as she saw several drones materialize on the artificial bridge.
"Leila!" came Kathryn's voice. "Leila, what's going on?"
"No!" Leila screamed as the drones headed towards B'Elanna. One grabbed the engineer from behind while another prepared to assimilate her.
"No!" Leila screamed again. "B'Elanna!"
"Leila!" said Kathryn. "What's happening?"
"Leila, don't worry about me," said B'Elanna. "Run...save yourself..." Just as a drone was about to assimilate, Leila charged into it, hurling it away from B'Elanna. One then picked up Leila, set her upright, and prepared for assimilation. Leila, defeated, saw B'Elanna slump to the floor. The young captain then screamed one final word:
"B'Elanna!"
A/N: Okay, probably not the best of Borg confrontations, but...okay then. Please r&r this chappie...tell me if I got stuff wrong...stuff like that.
Next Chapter: Battle for the Klingons--Starfalcon and Voyager team up to rescue Leila and B'Elanna from the Borg.
